Source : BUSINESS NEWS
Bullock debunks Labor
The Reserve Bank governor has contradicted Labor’s claims that wages can continue to rise without productivity gains, as the Albanese government pushes for an above-inflation increase for 3 million workers on minimum rates this year. The Fin
Trump tariff sting may be high as 20pc
The Albanese government is bracing for Donald Trump to impose ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs of up to 20 per cent when he escalates his global trade war today, but is hoping any Australian industries are hit with lower rates than their international rivals. The Fin
Di Pilla vows Healthscope will continue
HMC Capital managing director David Di Pilla says he would keep Healthscope operating in this first public pitch for why his asset manager should acquire the country’s second-largest operator of private hospitals if its private equity owner decides to sell. The Fin
RBA boss did not feel ‘political pressure’ from Chalmers
Reserve Bank of Australia governor Michele Bullock has refused to say if Treasurer Jim Chalmers phoned her last year to complain about the bank linking government spending to inflation pressures in the economy. The Fin
Inflated promise to low-paid workers
Anthony Albanese will back above-inflation pay rises for 2.9 million low-paid workers, igniting an election fight with Peter Dutton and business, as Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock cautioned the tight labour market could put “upward pressure” on wages and inflation. The Aus
Dutton to install ‘red tape cope’ in boost for business
The Coalition will install a “call-in” cop that will have legislative powers to approve multimillion-dollar investment projects such as the North West Shelf gas development if slow bureaucrats cannot do it in time, as Peter Dutton vows to drive a “pro-business” culture in the public service. The Aus
Libs to drop fines on car emissions
The Coalition will abolish fines for car companies who breach targets under Australia’s first vehicle emissions standards scheme, in a major election commitment aimed at taking down the Albanese government’s claim that the price of petrol cars will not increase under Labor’s policy. The Aus
Another Perth builder collapses
Home builder Inspired Property Group has become the latest company to collapse in WA’s devastating building bubble. The West
Green power puts heat on Labor
Adam Bandt has scoffed at the Prime Minister’s insistence he doesn’t do deals with the Greens — as Woodside’s plan to continue LNG production in WA’s North West looms as a key bargaining chip in the fight for power in Canberra. The West
Both sides of politics ‘trashed oil and gas’
DUG Technology has blasted Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s gas reservation plan as “stupidity”, while claiming governments of both political persuasions have done too much damage and left it too late to shore up Australia’s energy security. The West
The Australian Financial Review
Page 6: The Coalition plans to ease lending laws would provide modest help to first home buyers but push up house prices and do nothing to solve the supply constraints driving the affordability crisis, property industry executives and economists say.
Page 8: Executives from BHP and HSBC have warned that Labor’s non-compete ban could backfire unless carefully implemented, as Employment Minister Murray Watt confirmed it could extend to white-collar workers earning big bonuses above the $175,000 threshold.
Page 9: ASX-listed companies shave sparked a bidding war for senior female talent by focusing on getting women into leadership positions without increasing the number of women entering their industries, business leaders have warned.
Page 14: Virgin Australia is planning a return to the ASX after a five-year absence in June and has converted its structure into a public company – a step the Bain Capital-owned airline did not take when it last attempted to float.
Page 14: The price of gold has reached $5000 an ounce for the first time – and it’s not just long-time investors in the commodity that have a glint in their eyes.
Page 17: InfraBuild is in danger of breaching its agreement with lenders within three months unless the steel business owned by British industrialist Sanjeev Gupta improves its earnings, according to Fitch Ratings.
Page 24: A broad rally in the Australian sharemarket gained momentum yesterday, tracking a rebound on Wall Street before US President Donald Trump’s broad sweep of reciprocal tariffs take effect.
The Australian
Page 2: The Fair Work Ombudsman is investigating 20 aged-care providers in five states to ensure staff are receiving the right pay and entitlements, after recovering $40.5m for 22,000 underpaid workers last financial year.
Page 14: Three of the world’s major private equity firms that invest heavily in Australia have lost close to US$61.3bn from their sharemarket values since the start of the year in what analysts believe is a reflection of the number of failed investments emerging in the industry.
Page 15: Goldman Sachs has warned that ditching Rio Tinto’s dual-listed structure may cost the miner billions of dollars more than previously estimated and reduce its ability to pay fully franked dividends to Australian shareholders.
Page 19: Online luxury fashion and apparel marketplace Cettire has added some traditional retail strength to its board, hiring the Reject Shop chairman Steven Fisher and Accent Group CEO Daniel Agostinelli to its board.
Page 21: The number of international students who applied for and were granted a student visa in the first two months of 2025 fell dramatically on previous years in the first indication the government’s “de facto cap”, largely targeting Chinese students is working.
The West Australian
Page 16: A Murdoch University facilities manager who funnelled more than $1 million worth of work to a company set up by his wife and his close friend has pleaded guilty to criminal offences after a corruption watchdog probe.
Page 20: The Supreme Court will tour the huge Sino Iron mine in the Pilbara, despite the objections of billionaire Clive Palmer, as part of a court showdown seen as central to the project’s survival.
Page 21: WA’s oldest dairy, Brownes, has reported a lift in full-year profit and revenue in what boss Natalie Sarich-Dayton says was fuelled by the brand’s positive reception in the UK and South-East Asia.
Page 33: Multibillion-dollar global investment firm Barings — with $380 billion in assets under management across the globe — has talked up Perth’s appeal as an industrial property investment destination after completing its first development.
